When did you start maternity leave with 3rd pregnancy?

Due 3rd DC in January and I'm really dithering about when to start ML. I'm 24 weeks and exhausted at the moment, I feel much more tired this time round & i'm on count down to finishing up, but obvs I don't want to be an incredible wimp & finish ridiculously early when there is no medical reason.

Also, I work 3 days per week but some weeks an be quite physical in terms of being out & about and up & down down stairs.

I'm due DC3 in March and stopping work mid-Decemmber when I'll be 28 weeks - but DS1 and 2 were both very premature (had contractions from 29 weeks last time). I'm childminding 4 days a week but have reduced my workload so from 20 weeks on I'll only have one toddler and mine own 2 to deal with. By the end of the day I'm exhausted and I'm only 16 weeks now. Really really looking forward to finishing work and hoping I actually get some free time before the baby arrives.

I work full time and finished at 29 weeks. You can finish that early for a reason. I am very old, had crippling SPD with last pg, and now at 35 weeks am doing really quite well on that respect. With two other young children, I think we deserve to finish earlier. It is very different to first timers who can nap whenever and are not disturbed at night. You do not have to explain your decision to anyone!

Thanks for the replies. Gosh onedev you do well working up to your due date. Yep this time is so much more tiring, I too am rather old valium (almost 40) and my other two are 3 and nearly 5, so it's full on most of the time without much of a break. As soon as they are in bed I'm about to collapse into mine (late night tonight).

I think I'll just need to see how I go and think about finishing early to mid December all being well.

That's the thing though - do what's right for you. Mine were 2 & 4 when I was pregnant & I work full time but I felt fine & would always rather have time after the baby is born. My DH also did the bedtime routine every evening & I simply lay on our bed waiting for bathtime to be over to read with them